I'm wondering what would be the best overall powder to use for my 45 ACP reload.I'm loading a 200 grn SWCL & want to use a powder that would give me approx 8-9 grns of powder. The reason behind this is to prevent double charges,I'm trying to find a clean & accurate powder to use. I've looked at Accurate #5,but don't know much about this powder.I sure would appreciate some input & recommendations to consider.Thanks

I know it does not meet your needs, but 231 seems very clean in my 45's. I also like universal clays as being fairly clean. Blue dot is not to bad, but it does nearly fill the case.

But, the telling truth is I still load bullseye and unique because bullseye just is more accurate with my 230 FMC's and unique is the best with 185 JHP's. I accept the dirty aspects to get the accuracy.

AA#5 works well with 230gr jacketed bullets, however, I haven't had much luck with it using lead.
While it doesn't meet your 8-9gr requirement, I've gotten excellet results with Winchester Super Target and 200gr SWCs. Burns pretty clean in my guns.

I have been using 231 for some time in my revolver (.38/.357), and I have always dreaded the cleanup after any rangetime. My hands were always black by the end.

I recently have been experimenting with Hogdon's Clays, I'm getting great results accuracy-wise from it and it is sooooo much cleaner than the 231 loads I was using. My hands are still clean, even after a long range session.

I just went and looked at the container and they have one .45 ACP load on the label. I know it doesn't match the case capacity that you were looking for but...if you want clean.

The label on the Clays container shows a 185 JHP bullet with 4.9gr of Clays (MAX LOAD), and they quote a velocity of 981 fps.

AA#5 works VERY well with jacketed rounds and I have 2 different loads using 9 grains of the stuff in 45 acp. It also burns pretty clean (but truth be known ALL reloads leave a bit of residue in my 45 acp revolver, when i pop out the full moon clip i can tap it on the table top and get powder residue, you don't see that in your auto because it gets flung out of the gun)

Both give you a "stout" load that is STILL NOT +p and you can shoot all day without gumming up your guns.

All relaoding data given is anecdotal and should NOT be used in place of "working up" your own load under controlled conditions. Your reults may vary. Start low and work higher and watch out for signs of overpressure like bulged cases, blown case mouths or backed out primers. Inspect your brass and be wary of "range pick up" brass for high pressure loads. Your results at sea level may vary from mine at altitude (here in the mile high city)

I use Hodgdon HS-6 powder for my full power .45 ACP loads, as it does fill the case to the correct level. You can download the Hodgdon reloading manual in .pdf (Adobe) format at the Hodgdon website:http://www.hodgdon.com/data/basic1999.htm

Check for yourself, but they list a 200gr Speer JHP with 9.0 gr HS-6, with a COAL of 1.155" yielding 948 fps., and 16,400 cup.

Winchester actually makes Hodgdon powder, so consult a burning rate chart, and you will find a Win. powder very close to HS-6; you may use that if it is more accessable in your area. Winchester's URL for reloading data is: http://www.winchester.com/reloader/index.html

I've used Unique in .45ACP & .45 Colt, and have not found it to be particularly "clean," but neither is it the dirtiest powder I've used. However, I like the loads.
I have also used VV N350 with 230 gr. bullets in .45ACP, and found it to be a very clean load. N350 is the only powder I've found which will allow one to load 230 gr bullets to an 850fps velocity and still stay within pressure limits. I like this because that duplicates the Federal 230 gr. Hydra-Shok load.
My standard load for practice and competition is a 200 gr Rainier truncated cone bullet using WW231 at 900fps. Seems to be fairly clean.

If you want clean burning try the VihtaVuori(sp?) stuff. It is the cleanest burning powder I have ever used. I load all my full power .357s with VV N110 now, and even the inside of the case stays clean. I haven't tried any of their faster burning powders, but I understand they are supposed to be very clean also. N340 should work well for full house .45acp loads.
No, I'm not a VV salesman. I tried some I found at a good price at a gun show and I like it a lot. It is kinda expensive in the gun shops though.

I switched to Hodgdon TiteGroup after using Bullseye since about 1972. It meters easily, has about the same burn rate and density as Bullseye, very economically priced in the 8lb container at $88, and fairly clean with very little cleanup required. I use 4.5 grs(about 1/3 case volume) and 230 lead RN. Double-charging is allmost impossible on a progressive that auto indexes, but what you may want to use is a low density powder so it will spill over in a double.

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